Free used car buyer guide / GE / Q8 e-tron original body / 2019-2023
Audi e-tron common problems and best years
By BYBA Research - how we score cars
Updated 2026-06-12
BYBA Buy Score
6.8/10
3 walk-away risks, 5 minor faults documented for this generation, weighted by severity and repair cost. Biggest factor: 93u9 / 93v2 high-voltage battery module self-discharge. Score methodology.
The original Audi e-tron is a comfortable, quiet, fast-charging luxury EV, but it is not a cheap old Audi to run if the high-voltage history is vague. The three expensive traps are the 93U9/93V2 high-voltage battery-module recall, coolant ingress into the electric drive motors, and 93E8 charge-socket moisture that can take the car offline. The safest money is a 2022-2023 55 quattro or Sportback with 93U9 completed, no coolant-loss history, and dealer paperwork for any charging-port or battery-module work. Current owners should treat Audi recall status, coolant level evidence, and 80-percent daily charging discipline as ownership basics, not optional EV trivia.
Faults covered
8
Highest risk
93U9 / 93V2 high-voltage
Best years
2022-2023
Best buys
- 2022-2023 55 quattro with completed 93U9/93V2 battery software and module inspection.
- Cars still under Audi battery warranty with dealer invoices for any module or drive-motor work.
- Premium Plus / Vorsprung cars without panoramic-roof water stains or charging-flap errors.
Inspect hard
- All 2019-2022 cars for open 93U9/23V867 recall status and whether the final March 2025 remedy was completed.
- 2019 launch cars for 93E8 charge-socket seal work; moisture near the AC charge port is a hard warning.
- Any e-tron with coolant top-up history; drive-motor coolant leaks can become a motor replacement.
Avoid
- 2019 cars with no proof of 93E8 and 93U9 completion.
- Cars showing Electrical system fault, charging-flap DTCs, or unexplained range collapse.
- Out-of-warranty cars with repeated dealer visits for module balancing or coolant loss.
Next checks
Before you contact the seller
Check the car's history first. Then bring the right tools if it still looks worth viewing.
Primary next step
Check history, title, and recall status
The faults above matter more if the car also has accident history, finance flags, missing service records, or open safety recalls.
Viewing kit
Bring the right tools
Four cheap tools catch most of the faults on this page at a Audi e-tron viewing.
Printable workflow
Take the inspection pack
The PDF is the ordered checklist for the viewing: documents, walk-around, test drive, and scan.
Open PDF optionSome links here are partner links. If you buy through one, BYBA earns a commission. The price you pay does not change. How we make money.
Engines and trims
Which Audi e-tron should you buy?
On most used cars, the engine and trim choice changes the risk more than the mileage does. Narrow this down before you start viewing cars.
95 kWh gross / 86.5 kWh usable, 55 quattro
2019-2023
BEST WITH RECALL PAPERWORK
This is the pack most buyers want because it gives the e-tron its 150 kW charging curve and useful motorway range. The downside is not normal degradation; it is the module self-discharge population behind Audi recall 93U9/23V867. A healthy 55 pack with the final software and any required module replacement is a strong used EV. A 55 pack with open recall status is not a bargain until Audi has inspected it.
71 kWh gross / 64.7 kWh usable, 50 quattro
2020-2022 in Europe and selected markets
CITY-USE ONLY
The 50 quattro is mechanically similar but shorter-legged. It can make sense in Norway or the UK if the price is much lower and the car lives on home charging. It is a poor long-distance buy because the same luxury-EV repair exposure sits under a smaller pack.
95 kWh gross, e-tron S tri-motor
2021-2023
INSPECT HARDER
The S adds a second rear motor and more thermal load. It is quick and desirable, but every coolant, tyre, brake, and motor-mount question matters more. Buy it only with warranty, clean coolant history, and no evidence of repeated drive-unit or thermal-management diagnosis.
Q8 e-tron 106 kWh gross facelift
2023 transition
BEST IF IN SCOPE BY VIN
Late cars branded Q8 e-tron moved to the larger pack and improved efficiency. They are outside some early e-tron recall populations but still share charging hardware, coolant loops, and luxury-Audi electronics. Use the VIN, not the badge, to confirm campaign coverage.
Year notes
Year-by-year buyer advice
Use this to narrow the search before you spend time travelling to view a car.
2019
Launch year for the 55 quattro. The 93E8 charge-socket moisture recall applies to early cars built through May 2019, and these cars are inside the later 93U9 battery-module recall population.
Buyer: Buy only with 93E8 and 93U9 evidence. A cheap 2019 with no recall paperwork is cheap because the next owner becomes the recall-project manager.
Owner: Keep every Audi campaign document. If your car still has original charge-port seals or open battery recall status, sort that before any cosmetic repair.
2020
Sportback joins the range and the smaller 50 quattro appears in several markets. Battery recall exposure remains for 55 and Sportback cars.
Buyer: The 50 quattro only works as a local-use luxury EV. On a 55, focus less on mileage and more on recall completion, coolant history, and charging behaviour.
Owner: Watch the charge flap and AC charging port closely. A sticking flap plus red charge light can become a dealer-only diagnosis.
2021
e-tron S arrives with tri-motor hardware. Software maturity improves, but 93U9 still covers affected 2019-2022 high-voltage packs.
Buyer: The S is a warranty car. Do not buy a tri-motor e-tron with unexplained coolant top-ups or repeated drive-unit warnings.
Owner: Rotate tyres and inspect coolant evidence at every service. The S hides big repair bills behind normal luxury-car refinement.
2022
Final pre-Q8 model year in many markets, still included in 93U9. Used values become attractive as newer EVs improve range.
Buyer: This is the sweet spot if final recall remedy is complete. A 2022 with clean Audi campaign history is much safer than a cheaper 2019.
Owner: If Audi has replaced modules, keep the serial-number paperwork. It protects resale and gives the next technician a trail.
2023
Transition to Q8 e-tron branding and larger-pack facelift in some markets. Early 2023 cars can still look like the original e-tron depending on market and build date.
Buyer: Confirm whether the VIN is original e-tron or facelift Q8 e-tron. Badge wording alone is not enough for campaign and pack identification.
Owner: Treat the car as a late Audi EV, not an old platform immune from campaigns. Check Audi recall status after every ownership transfer.
Common problems
Faults to check before buying
What fails, what it looks like, what it costs, and the quick checks you can do at the viewing - ranked by how badly each one can hurt you.
Fault 1
93U9 / 93V2 high-voltage battery module self-discharge
Affects
2019-2022 e-tron quattro and 2020-2022 e-tron Sportback; verify 2023 transition cars by VIN.
Symptoms
Reduced range, reduced performance, high-voltage warnings, recall open in Audi system, or dealer request to limit charge to 80 percent.
Typical repair cost
$0 under recall; downtime can be weeks. Non-campaign module work can run $4,000-15,000+.
Codes / scan clues
Campaign 93U9 / 93V2; NHTSA 23V867; module self-discharge monitoring faults vary by scan.
Root cause: Certain battery modules can self-discharge abnormally. Audi treats this as a thermal-overload risk, not only a capacity problem, so the remedy is software monitoring plus module inspection and replacement where required.
Quick check
- Run the VIN through Audi and NHTSA before viewing.
- Ask for the March 2025 or later final-remedy work order.
- Check whether the car is still set to an 80 percent cap because recall work is incomplete.
- Look for range drop that does not match weather or tyre changes.
Buyer note
Do not buy an affected car on a promise that the recall is easy. Buy after Audi has documented completion, or price it as a car that may sit at a dealer.
Owner note
Keep the final recall paperwork with the title documents. It is one of the first questions a serious e-tron buyer will ask.
Fault 2
Coolant ingress into electric drive motors
Affects
2019-2023 e-tron and e-tron Sportback, especially cars with coolant top-up history.
Symptoms
Coolant low warnings, coolant residue underbody, insulation faults, drivetrain warning, reduced power, or dealer diagnosis of motor coolant leak.
Typical repair cost
$3,000-8,000 per motor outside warranty; more if high-voltage components are contaminated.
Codes / scan clues
Audi TSB 93 24 46 / 2073858; high-voltage insulation, drive-system, and coolant-loss faults vary by module.
Root cause: The rotor/stator cooling arrangement can allow coolant past internal seals. Once coolant reaches the electrical side of the drive unit, Audi usually replaces assemblies rather than rebuilding them in the field.
Quick check
- Ask directly whether coolant has ever been topped up between services.
- Inspect underbody shields and motor housings for dried pink/white residue.
- Scan for insulation and coolant-loss faults.
- After a long drive, recheck for fresh coolant smell or warning messages.
Buyer note
A luxury EV with coolant history is not automatically bad, but an active leak is not a negotiation item. It is a pre-purchase dealer diagnosis.
Owner note
Do not top up and keep driving without finding the leak. Coolant inside an electric drive unit changes a manageable leak into a major HV repair.
Fault 3
93E8 charge-socket moisture ingress
Affects
Early 2019 e-tron built July 2018 to May 2019; verify by VIN.
Symptoms
Electrical system fault, charging fault, moisture around charge socket, refusal to charge, or warning to stop driving.
Typical repair cost
$0 under 93E8 recall; $800-3,000+ if harness or HV components are affected outside coverage.
Codes / scan clues
NHTSA 19V434; Audi campaign 93E8.
Root cause: A faulty charging-socket seal lets moisture enter the high-voltage battery system. Audi's recall warns that moisture can short high-voltage electronics and increase fire risk.
Quick check
- Confirm 93E8 completion on every 2019 car.
- Open both charging flaps and inspect seal seating and water marks.
- Start an AC charge session and a DC handshake if possible.
- Reject any car showing Electrical system fault after charging.
Buyer note
This is not a cosmetic charge-door issue. On early cars, missing 93E8 paperwork is enough to pause the purchase.
Owner note
Keep the charge-port area clean and dry, and get any red charging warning diagnosed immediately.
Fault 4
Charging flap actuator and charge-port lock faults
Affects
2019-2023 cars with powered charge-port doors.
Symptoms
Flap sticks open or shut, red charge indicator, cable locked, failed AC charge start, or repeated charge-port DTCs.
Typical repair cost
$600-2,000 depending on actuator, door assembly, and labour.
Codes / scan clues
B1A8FF0, B1A89F0, B1A8AF3, B1A88F3; Audi TSB 93 23 28 / 2071343/1.
Root cause: The powered door and lock assembly lives in a wet, dirty wheel-arch area. Actuator strain, seal drag, and water contamination create failures that look like charger problems.
Quick check
- Open and close both charge flaps five times.
- Plug in AC and confirm the lock engages and releases.
- Check scan history for charge-door DTCs.
- Listen for a struggling actuator rather than a clean click.
Buyer note
A lazy flap is not the same as 93E8, but it can hide the same water-prone area. Use it to inspect harder, not to dismiss the fault.
Owner note
Keep the hinge and seal clean. Forcing the flap is how an actuator problem becomes a broken door assembly.
Fault 5
On-board AC charger / charging electronics failure
Affects
2019-2023 e-tron, all pack sizes.
Symptoms
AC charging interrupted, DC charging still works, red charge light, charger starts then stops, or dealership diagnosis of charger module.
Typical repair cost
$2,000-4,500 outside warranty.
Codes / scan clues
High-voltage charger module faults; charge-port DTCs may appear with B1A8xx family.
Root cause: AC charging uses onboard electronics that are separate from the DC fast-charge path. Water intrusion, voltage events, or module failure can disable home charging while public DC still works.
Quick check
- Start a Level 2 AC session during the viewing.
- Check whether DC fast charging and AC charging both work.
- Ask what EVSE the car normally uses and whether interruptions are logged.
- Scan the charging module before clearing faults.
Buyer note
Never accept "it just does not like that charger" without testing another EVSE. A home-charging failure changes the car's usefulness immediately.
Owner note
Record charging faults with date, EVSE type, and weather. Pattern history helps separate charger infrastructure from vehicle electronics.
Fault 6
Panoramic roof and upper-body water leaks
Affects
2019-2023 cars with panoramic roof or blocked drains.
Symptoms
Damp headliner, wet footwell, musty cabin, misted glass, or water staining in rear trim.
Typical repair cost
$200-1,500; more if modules under trim are damaged.
Codes / scan clues
Usually none until water reaches modules.
Root cause: Drain blockage, seal seating, or body aperture adjustment allows water into a cabin packed with electronics. The fault is familiar from modern Audis but worse in an EV because damp modules create confusing electrical symptoms.
Quick check
- Inspect headliner corners and rear side trim before the car is warmed.
- Lift boot-floor panels and feel insulation.
- Pour a small amount of water into roof drains if the seller allows.
- Smell for dampness with HVAC off.
Buyer note
Damp interior plus any electrical warning is a hard pass. Dry-looking carpets after detailing are not proof; check underneath.
Owner note
Clear drains yearly and dry insulation fully after any leak. Trapped moisture is what kills modules later.
Fault 7
Front suspension arm, tyre, and brake wear from weight
Affects
All 2019-2023 e-tron, especially S and cars on large wheels.
Symptoms
Inner-edge tyre wear, vibration, brake judder, suspension knock, or mismatched tyres.
Typical repair cost
$800-2,500 for tyres/arms/brakes depending on wheel size.
Codes / scan clues
Usually none; physical wear.
Root cause: The e-tron is heavy and torque-rich. Big wheels, air suspension height changes, and urban braking wear tyres and front suspension parts faster than a Q5-size buyer expects.
Quick check
- Run a hand across inner tyre shoulders.
- Brake from motorway speed and feel for judder.
- Drive over small sharp bumps with audio off.
- Check tyre brand and load rating on all four corners.
Buyer note
Tyres and brakes are consumables, but cheap mismatched tyres on a heavy EV tell you how the owner handled bigger bills.
Owner note
Rotate tyres where permitted, align yearly, and do not chase cosmetic low ride height if tyre life matters.
Fault 8
MMI, virtual cockpit, and driver-assistance software glitches
Affects
2019-2023, more common on early software.
Symptoms
Black screen, frozen MMI, camera errors, keyless glitches, app connection failures, or driver-assist warnings.
Typical repair cost
$0-500 for software/update diagnosis; $1,000+ if a module is replaced.
Codes / scan clues
MMI and gateway module software faults vary by campaign.
Root cause: Early e-tron software stacks combine EV charging logic, Audi MMI, and driver assistance. Low 12V state, failed updates, or damp modules can create symptoms that look unrelated.
Quick check
- Cold-start the car and wait for MMI, cameras, and cluster to boot.
- Pair a phone, load navigation, and shift into reverse.
- Check for open software campaigns.
- Measure 12V battery health if multiple modules complain.
Buyer note
One reboot is normal modern-Audi annoyance. Repeated module faults after a 12V test point to a car that needs diagnosis before purchase.
Owner note
Keep software current and replace the 12V battery before chasing phantom module faults.
Inspection pack
Printable checklist for the viewing
The free page helps you decide whether the car is worth seeing. The paid guide is the ordered, printable checklist you use at the car.
- Audi Elsa campaign printout showing 93E8, 93U9/93V2, and any 2024-2025 recalls complete.
- Battery warranty status and all high-voltage work orders.
- Coolant, drive-unit, charger, and charge-port invoices.
- Inspect both charge ports, roof/headliner edges, boot floor, and underbody coolant traces.
- Check tyre load rating, inner-edge wear, and brake disc condition.
- Look for damp carpets before HVAC dries the cabin.
- Boot MMI from cold, test cameras, keyless, windows, HVAC, and charge-flap controls.
- Check recall warnings, battery warnings, and displayed charge limit.
- Drive long enough for thermal systems to run, then recheck coolant/electrical warnings.
- Listen for suspension knocks and brake judder.
- Scan high-voltage battery, charger, gateway, thermal management, and driver-assistance modules.
- Save screenshots of all historical faults before negotiation.
Bottom line
Buy: Buy the newest 55 quattro or Sportback you can find with completed final 93U9/93V2 work, clean coolant history, and a seller who understands the car's campaign record. The e-tron is a very good used luxury EV when Audi has already absorbed the high-voltage uncertainty.
Avoid: Avoid open-recall 2019-2021 cars, any e-tron with active HV or coolant warnings, and sellers who say battery recalls are "just software" without paperwork. That sentence can hide weeks of dealer downtime.
Quick answers
Audi e-tron buyer questions
The short versions of what this page answers in full.
What are the most common Audi e-tron 2019-2023 problems?
The highest-impact documented faults are: 93U9 / 93V2 high-voltage battery module self-discharge; Coolant ingress into electric drive motors; 93E8 charge-socket moisture ingress. This guide covers 8 faults in total, each with symptoms, typical repair costs, and checks you can do at a viewing.
Which Audi e-tron years are the best to buy?
2022-2023 stand out in this generation. Buy the newest 55 quattro or Sportback you can find with completed final 93U9/93V2 work, clean coolant history, and a seller who understands the car's campaign record. The e-tron is a very good used luxury EV when Audi has already absorbed the high-voltage uncertainty.
Which Audi e-tron should I avoid?
Avoid open-recall 2019-2021 cars, any e-tron with active HV or coolant warnings, and sellers who say battery recalls are "just software" without paperwork. That sentence can hide weeks of dealer downtime.
Is the Audi e-tron 2019-2023 a reliable used buy?
BYBA scores it 6.8/10 (buy with checks). 3 walk-away risks, 5 minor faults documented for this generation, weighted by severity and repair cost. Biggest factor: 93u9 / 93v2 high-voltage battery module self-discharge.
Get updates when this guide changes
Recalls get added, repair costs shift, and new fault patterns show up in the data. Leave an email and we'll tell you when the Audi e-tron guide gets a meaningful revision. Nothing else, no selling your address.
Research basis
- static.nhtsa.gov: RCMN-23V867-4573.pdf
- static.nhtsa.gov: RCRIT-23V867-3583.pdf
- static.nhtsa.gov: RCLRPT-19V434-4891.PDF
- static.nhtsa.gov: RCRIT-19V434-9748.pdf
- audiworld.com: recall-high-voltage-battery-module-s-93u9-23v867-3065125
- e-tronforum.com: high-voltage-battery-module-s-93u9-23v867.6749
- go-parts.com
- go-parts.com
- reddit.com: og_etronq8_etron_how_is_the_situation_with
- auto-recalls.justia.com: index.html
- reddit.com: etron_charging_issues
- NHTSA complaints database for Audi e-tron charging/electrical complaints
- reddit.com: 2019_etron_issues
- reddit.com: used_2019_etron_initial_woes
- Audi e-tron owner tyre-wear threads
- AudiWorld e-tron suspension and tyre discussions